Willowbird Woods

getting personal...

2011-10-14T21:15:00.000-05:00

The Autumn Street Fair has come and gone, and I have to say it was a very cold and windy day, but I drank alot of hot chocolate and enjoyed talking with all those that stopped by.

...It looks deceptively calm in those pictures.

Here are a few personalized orders, most are from the Autumn Street Fair...

I'm busy finishing more custom paintings, so if you ordered something from me you should be getting it soon! :)

a forest abc's...

2011-09-16T09:14:00.000-05:00

A is for acorn,

taken from a tree.

B is for bear,

cuddly as can be.

C is for caterpillar,

squirming towards the sky.

D is for deer,

who just stopped to say hi.

These little friendly abc paintings were done for Leanne Morrison, who just had a sweet baby boy. They are for his nursery. Thanks, Leanne :)

always kiss me goodnight...

2011-08-31T21:16:00.000-05:00

This is an 8x10 that I painted for my aunt, Teresa.

I love the quote...so cute. :)

Thanks, Teresa :)

back to school...

2011-08-15T21:10:00.000-05:00

Today was the first day back at school for our county and I can honestly say that I am exhausted. It's 9:01, and I am so going to bed after I finish this post. Today was such an exciting day for me...after 5 years teaching elementary art, today was my first day as a high school librarian. I absolutely loved it...I'm so glad I get to put this degree that I've been working so hard on to work (and it doesn't hurt that I'm surrounded by books all day- my dream job!)

I thought it would be appropriate to post a teacher canvas in honor of all those teachers and students who started school today as well. I did this one for Tamra Newby; she said she liked pink and black and dots, but other than that she let me do what I wanted...

I hope you enjoy it, Tamra!

for the laundry room...

2011-08-09T17:44:00.000-05:00

This 12x24 canvas is the second painting I did for Tiffany Keeton. She also wanted a definition quote for her laundry room.

I tried to keep the font crisp and clean...you know, like laundry should be.

Maybe if I made one of these for myself I would be more inspired to do laundry....well, no, probably not. :)

the definition of family...

2011-08-06T14:14:00.000-05:00

Tiffany Keeton ordered this fairly ginormous canvas (24"x36", I think it was) for her family room. The definition is loosely taken from a small sign she already had, and I added the abstract paisley background just for fun.

The lighting was horrible on the day I took these pictures, it was cloudy and rainy all day, but you can at least see a bit of the detail in the lettering in this next photo. I gave all the letters a bit of gold accenting.

I also just finished a canvas with the definition of "laundry" for Tiffany, and will have that one up on the blog soon. Thanks, Tiffany! :)

welcome to our nest 2

2011-07-15T11:00:00.000-05:00

This is a 8x16 done for Lori Hollis; it's similar to this one I did a while back, just a different color scheme.

I love the design, and have been meaning to make myself one when I have time...maybe one day.

Totally unrelated, but today is a big day! I'm on my way to a theater to experience some history...it's the end of an era...

Yay!!!

an eiffel tower for kloey

2011-07-04T12:49:00.000-05:00

It's been a while since I posted, so I've got a picture backlog going on...but just one for today.

I did this painting at the end of the school year for a student of mine. She wanted a girly, pink, glittery Eiffel tower...

I think this size was 16x20? It was a pretty good size anyways. I added some faux sparkle with white paint, and then some real glitter paint as well.

You can see the glitter a bit better in this next close-up...

I have been doing a few more paintings this summer, some for orders and some to get ready for the Autumn Street Fair. October 1st seems like a long time away, but I know it will be here before I know it, and I've already had a dream (nightmare) where I show up at the Autumn Street Fair and discover that I've only brought four paintings to sell...so I figure if I'm having stressed out dreams then I need to get busy.

At some point I also thought it would be a good idea to take three graduate classes this summer....it wasn't such a good idea, as it turns out. Most of my time has been spent writing papers, researching, working on projects, participating in discussion boards, and reading...lots and lots of reading...

(this doesn't even include the books I downloaded to my Kindle) I love to read more than anything, but sheesh...this is just for one class.

So, that's pretty much what I've been working on this summer...well, I have been working on something else as well. But more on that later :)

glitter fish

2011-05-21T14:10:00.002-05:00

This is another painting I did for Lorie Padgett for her classroom. She wanted this one for the beginning of the year.

She has a glittery metal fish that she uses as part of her room decoration, and wanted this painting to match, glitter and all.

You can see the glitter a bit better in this picture...

Thanks, Lorie :)

little red bird...

2011-04-29T16:38:00.000-05:00

I did this canvas for Ashley Newport. She requested a donation for a benefit she was a part of, and I'm always willing to help a good cause. I did a little distressing on the canvas... I think it gives it kind of a country feel.

I love red and teal together, and I've been seeing so many red birds in my yard lately, I was inspired to paint one ~ and I had to give him a little berry and twig nest :)

welcome spring :)

2011-04-22T21:17:00.001-05:00

Lorie Padgett ordered this welcome sign for her classroom door. She requested daisies, but left the rest up to me. I went with kind of "springy" colors, and threw in some pink (because I know she loves pink :).

Speaking of spring...

I was watering my plants today, and found what I thought was a spider's nest in one of the flower pots. I was about to freak out and run away, but then realized that it wasn't a spider's nest at all, but a caterpillar's cocoon (which isn't quite as scary to me). So this is my new "pet," Fluffy. I hope I get to see it turn into a butterfly. :)

gift certificates now available...

2011-02-27T16:52:00.001-06:00

I am now offering gift certificates. These make great last minute gifts! To order one online, click over in the sidebar, choose your amount, pay by pay pal, and your gift certificate will be emailed to you- ready to print. :)

matthew's owl

2011-02-26T12:04:00.000-06:00

Susan Nokes was the winner of this owl painting I gave away on the Frostings blog a couple of weeks ago. She requested that her son's name be added to it and a brown ribbon be added... I think it turned out pretty cute.

I hope you enjoy it, Susan :)

Malone...

2011-02-23T21:13:00.000-06:00

This one is for Natasha Vaughn, the sweet owner of Frostings. It's the classic "established" canvas, which she ordered as a wedding shower gift.

I love these colors...they are one of my favorite combination.

This size is 8x24, which is $25.oo.

Thanks for the order, Natasha :)

birds and baby grass treasury

2011-02-21T10:31:00.000-06:00

I love that I was featured in this etsy treasury...it's so springy (can I use that word like that? oh well..) :)

'Birds and baby grass' by anatomynaturals

Spring is in the air! Take these shades of green and let them carry you through the last of winter and into the fresh, warm air of springtime! Shhhhhhh.....can you hear the birds?

The Piano Gloves in Spr... handknittedthi... $50.00	Pleated Buttercup Hobo,... aprilforshee $38.50	Tiny Flower Clip - pink TheSilverButto... $3.50
Spring Green Button Bra... jcjools $6.00	Spring bud green cranes mejulie $15.00	lily - Fine Art Photogr... Susigrafie $18.00
Spring Greens Pendant Pookledo $10.00	The Collector - recycle... krystlerose $100.00	Early Spring Hand Dyed ... cymberfloss $2.95
Juliette filigree adjus... outonalimbstud... $10.00	On a Willowbird Branch:... WillowbirdWood... $25.00	Spring Time Lime Pendan... paulasstressar... $30.00
Springtime Necklace TheFeltedPosey $35.00	Original- POPPIES and... autumnvelvetro... $475.00	SPRING. Green Crochete... Crocheted4Kids $2.50
lime green simple mobi... RedorGrayArt $9.00

trees...

2011-02-19T10:49:00.000-06:00

This is a 16x20 I did as a donation to McMinnville's Junior Auxiliary. They are holding a gala and silent auction to raise money for their charity. The idea for this canvas has been in my head for a while, I'm glad I could finally get it onto canvas; it's kind of an abstracted landscape.

find your happy place...

2011-02-09T21:37:00.000-06:00

I love my cat, Tiggy. I love her so much that I buy her cat toys, and scratching posts, and soft beds for her to nap in....

But none of that seems to appeal to her that much. She likes unconventional places to nap...

like shoe boxes...

and plastic bags....

and in pretty much any other bag...

and, her personal favorite, an open drawer...

Whatever makes her happy, I guess...and a box or a bag is alot better than the alternative...

(And, no, she is not dead. This is how the fat cat sleeps.)

today is my feature...

2011-02-05T08:35:00.001-06:00

*This giveaway is now closed. Congrats to Susan Nokes, who won this little owl, and thanks to all who left such sweet comments :) *
Make time to stop by Natasha Vaughn blog, Frostings, today to enter to win this 12x12 owl. All you have to do is leave a comment. :)

john deere green

2011-02-03T20:39:00.001-06:00

This green and yellow oval canvas is for my cousin's sister-in-law. The whole time I was painting this, rolling through my mind (in the hick-iest twang possible) was...
"John Deere green, on a hot summer night. He wrote Billy Bob luuuvs Charlene, letters three foot high..."

...got to love a little Joe Diffie every now and then. :)

February Feature and Freebies

2011-01-31T21:47:00.000-06:00

Starting tomorrow, Natasha Vaughn will be hosting a week + of giveaways over at her blog- Frostings. Natasha has such a great blog, not only does she sell really cute jewelry, but every Friday she does what she calls a "Feature Friday" where she showcases items from other bloggers and etsy stores. I have found more than a few gifts (for others and myself) through her Feature Fridays.

I love giveaways.. I love entering them, I love giving away things, I love entering them...;)

Here's what I'll be giving away on my day:

This 12x12 owl is one of my favorites, and I'm offering free personalization to the winner. I hope you'll stop by Frostings this week to enter all of the wonderful giveaways Natasha has lined up. :)

a chalkie-chalkboard for ryder...

2011-01-21T12:20:00.000-06:00

This chalkie-chalkboard was ordered by Anne Vance. I have made these in the 5x18 size in the past, but it works really well in this 12x12 size as well (both sizes are $25.oo)

Thanks, Anne. :)

addison's artwork canvas

2011-01-12T21:38:00.000-06:00

Ginger Dunn ordered this art display canvas for her granddaughter, and requested shades of pink and green.

Thanks for the order, Ginger :)

These art display canvases are $50.oo, and can be customized to fit any style or color scheme.

gimley the gimpy elephant

2011-01-10T10:27:00.000-06:00

I slowly have been teaching myself how to sew, and think I'm doing pretty good, but apparently some things are still well beyond my skill level...
and I now present my first and last attempt at making an elephant pin cushion...

"I don't need a pattern," I thought..."how hard could it be?" Well, six very frustrating hours later, he was finished. Yes, he had four legs of variable sizes; yes, he looked slightly like a rhinoceros; and yes, his tale was attached to his back left leg (and later had to be surgically removed and reattached in the right spot)...but he was finished. Success! (sort of).

And I'm sure you're thinking why in the world I would want to make an elephant pincushion in the first place...well, it was what my sister requested for Christmas...
she doesn't sew...
not random at all, right?

a touch of pink...

2011-01-03T22:45:00.000-06:00

Lindsey Barrett just became a 2nd grade teacher, and wanted a sign to decorate her door. This is similar to one I have done before, but Lindsey requested her name in pink, which I think gives the painting a pretty feminine touch...

I made two of these, just because I like this little owl so much. So if anyone is interested, I have one exactly like this, just without a name or ribbon. It's a 10x10, and $25.oo.

Thanks for the order, Lindsey. And good luck on your new teaching assignment :)

and I almost made it to 52...

2011-01-03T11:11:00.000-06:00

but, alas, my book count for the year stopped at 46...only six away from meeting the 52 books in 52 weeks challenge. It was definitely a fun (well, mooostly fun) attempt, though. With graduate classes and after school tutoring and painting and then having to sleep on occasion as well (darn it), I just couldn't quite get it done. I did learn some interesting things about my reading habits, though. Like how I tend to read the same few books over and over and over again (come on, I'm sure I'm not the only one out there who has read all seven Harry Potter books at least 10 times, right...). Looking through my list of books, roughly half (maybe more) were books that I have read 2+ times. At the beginning of the year I tried to make an effort to read new books, and to also read books that I would normally shy away from (like A Bride Most Begrudging..historical romance..bleegh), but that didn't last too long. Maybe this year I'll do better...(maybe). Anyway, here are 3 highlights from what I read this year:

the most-best-greatest: By far my favorite was The Name of the Wind. An epic fantasy with an amazing plot that hooks you from the very beginning. It's kind of like Harry Potter meets Lord of the Rings. The only bad thing about this book is that it's brand new, which means the sequel hasn't come out yet. It comes out in March (which doesn't seem like that far away now, but I have been waiting impatiently since last June).

big-bummy-bummer: In my opinion, the Sookie Stackhouse books (the two that I read, anyways) did not live up to all the hype that I have heard about them. The characters were not that believable, and the plots were not great. I guess after reading the Twilight series, I already had in my head what a modern vampire novel should be, and this was way, way different (not to mention trashy)...not a fan, not a fan at all.

weirdliest: Whoever thought of the idea for Pride and Prejudice and Zombies is either a genius or really crazy. All of the text of the original book is there, just with zombie parts added: nothing like reading your favorite part of Pride and Prejudice, and suddenly encountering a scene of zombie slaying and brain eating...good times. :s

Ahhh...so many (good) times. I've already started on my first book for this year's challenge (and it's not one I've read before, yay). If you would like to participate in the 52 book challenge, you can visit the blog by clicking here.

today is the day...

2011-01-02T08:32:00.001-06:00

*This giveaway is now closed, congrats to Kristen Green, and thanks to all who commented!*

Today is my giveaway day over at Dream Custom Artwork...click over and leave a comment to be entered to win. Remember, I'm giving away this...

dream custom artwork's 10 days of giveaways

2010-12-31T10:12:00.000-06:00

Brandie at Dream Custom Artwork is about to start her 10(actually I think it's 13!) days of giveaways on her blog tomorrow. Every day there will be a different blogger/crafter with a giveaway, and all you have to do to enter is leave a comment below the post (and you can leave multiple comments for more chances to win).
I'm not sure what day my giveaway will be, but here's what my items are...

The pouch is a new thing...this is the first one I have ever made to go with the chalkie-chalkboard. It's designed to hold the chalk and fasten around the ribbon, but I think you could use it for just about anything (personally I would put it on my purse and use it to hold my phone...I can't ever find that thing when I need it).

If you would like to order a custom chalkie-chalkboard or pouch, just email me or comment below, the chalkboard is $25.oo, and the pouch is $10.oo.

...and make sure to check out Brandie's blog every day this week and next for some really cool giveaways :)

snowy snowmen...

2010-12-29T08:39:00.002-06:00

lots and lots and lots of them...

I have one left, the one in the bottom right of this picture (with the black hat and light blue background)-the size is 6x6, and it's ~~on sale now for $10.oo~~ sold. :)

mermaids

2010-12-23T12:36:00.000-06:00

Danielle Smith ordered a Ninja Turtle painting for her son's room a while back, and wanted a painting that matched her daughter's room as well. She asked for the Little Mermaid and a My Little Pony mermaid along with her daughter's name.

Ahhh... that completes my last Christmas order. Thanks, Danielle :)

ho to the third power

2010-12-21T17:36:00.000-06:00

It's almost that time again...he'll be here soon. :)

This canvas is sold, but it's an 8x12 and $25.oo if your planning ahead for next year. :)

ovals for kiddos

2010-12-20T14:03:00.000-06:00

Teresa Campbell ordered these four oval canvases for her grand-kids. I gave each one a different color scheme with it's own special image.

These are 8x10 ovals, and are $20.oo each. Thanks, Teresa :)

a growth chart for theo

2010-12-18T22:05:00.002-06:00

Susan Burks ordered this growth chart for her son, Theo. She wanted a jungle theme, so I added the lion, monkey, and little exotic bird.

The spaces are one inch apart, and can be labeled with a sharpie or paint pen. The total size of the chart is 13x50, and is done on canvas fabric.

The price for these is $50.oo, and they can be customized to fit any theme. I'm almost caught up with my orders for Christmas, so I should be taking orders again soon (yay!).

Thanks for the order, Susan :)

ella claire's artwork

2010-12-15T13:01:00.001-06:00

Lindsey Hillis{edit: that would be Lindsey Matheny now, sorry Lindsey, lol} ordered this artwork hanger for her daughter, Ella Claire. I love making these canvases, and this one is the first that I have personalized with a name.

It also has elements from her room, like this bird from her bedding.

Thanks, Lindsey. I hope Ella Claire loves it :)

let it (still) snow

2010-12-14T11:04:00.000-06:00

It was still snowing at my house this morning when I woke up...this is so unusual for us at this time of the year. I thought I would post a picture of this canvas because it just seemed to fit today.

This is for Natalie Miller, a colleague of mine. I was going to give this to Natalie on Monday, but we were snowed out of school. Too bad, because this would be perfect to display right now. Maybe we'll get to go back before Christmas break starts on Friday.

first snow

2010-12-13T08:37:00.001-06:00

Well, I think I'm snowed in today. I can't remember the last time we had a snow this big before January. It would be great to have a white Christmas this year, but even if we don't, I'm going to enjoy the snow we have now. I took this picture early this morning from my front porch; somewhere out there is our road...

I guess I'll be doing a lot of painting today. I recently completed this painting for Jacqueline Ashford, it's exactly like one I did a while back, except it's a different size.

And I'll definitely take some time to relax, read, and drink some hot chocolate with my husband today... :)

vrrrooom

2010-12-02T10:22:00.000-06:00

This plane themed chalkie-chalkboard is for Anne Vance's mom...for those cute grandkids, I'm assuming. :)

These chalkboards are $25.oo, and can be personalized in pretty much any way you can think of...and they can be wiped clean with a damp paper towel- super easy-peasy.

another classy oval

2010-11-30T18:11:00.001-06:00

Katherine Reed ordered this oval canvas to match her living room. It is similar to one I recently posted, but with colors and patterns to match Katherine's living room.

Thanks, Katherine! :)

welcome dove

2010-11-24T08:44:00.000-06:00

This welcome sign is for another colleague of mine, Lisa Carden. She wanted to have a spiritual symbol included in her painting, so I painted a small dove behind the "Welcome."

This picture doesn't really do the painting justice. Now that the days are shorter, I'm usually not home when it's light outside...which is a bummer...so all my pictures lately have been with unlovely unnatural light.

Thanks for the order, Lisa, and enjoy your week off. I know I am :)

a chalkie-chalkboard for rachel

2010-11-22T13:12:00.001-06:00

One of my colleagues, Rachel Hines, ordered this chalkboard with a request to add a little bird.

I love this ribbon; I got it at a vintage general store in Savannah, GA quite a while ago. I recently went back to Savannah, and the shop had gone out of business :(

But at least I got to use the ribbon on a something really cute.

Enjoy, Rachel :)

mini christmas cuties

2010-11-06T14:35:00.001-05:00

I have really been craving some Christmas, lately. I am so ready to chuck the fall decorations out of my house and get out the tree and tinsel. The only thing holding me back is Thanksgiving...I don't want to hurt it's feelings, or make it feel neglected...so I'm going to give it one, maybe two more weeks...then I'm going to break out my favorite rendition of "Good King Wenceslas" and get my Christmas on.

Speaking of Christmas, I am now offering a new size of canvas- the 6"x6". These are $15.oo, and would be perfect small gifts for your favorite teacher, a secret santa, or those hard-to-buy-for people in your life. Here are a couple of pre-made ones that are for sale...

Be sure to get your Christmas orders in soon. I think I'm going to designate Dec. 1 as the cut-off day for Christmas orders, due to the ever-increasing list of "things I really must get done, but don't have time for." Ahhh, if only I could live without sleep. :)

~btw, I will now have "Good King Wenceslas" running through my head for the rest of the day, yay Christmas :) ~

a girly snowy snowman

2010-11-04T22:41:00.000-05:00

Lori Padgett ordered a snowman welcome canvas, but wanted it with a girly twist, so I got out the pink paint and went to town...

Thanks, Lori. Enjoy :)

Classy

2010-10-26T16:21:00.002-05:00

This oval canvas is for my aunt, Teresa, who wanted a sign with her and her husbands names, their monogram, and wedding year. She requested a black and grey color scheme...very classic and sophisticated, I think.

Enjoy, Teresa. :)

for madeline

2010-10-23T10:10:00.000-05:00

Tiffany Keeton ordered this painting to go in her sweet daughter, Madeline's, room.. The size is 18x24.

She wanted it to match the bedding, which looks like this...

Super cute bedding, it's fun and girly without being too frilly...I would love to have had this as a girl (although... my She-ra sheets and Rainbow Bright blanket were pretty cool, too.)

Thank you, Tiffany and Madeline, enjoy your painting :)

fall sale

2010-10-16T11:41:00.003-05:00

My studio is getting a little full, so it's time to clear out the fall canvases to get ready for Christmas. If you see anything you like, just comment or email me.

5.5x5.5 owl on wood $7.oo

5.5x5.5 a is for acorn on wood $7.oo

5.5x12 tree on wood ~~$10.oo~~ sold

10x10 h is for halloween on canvas ~~$15.oo~~ sold

9x12 bat on canvas $15.oo

5.5x5.5 p is for pumpkin on wood ~~$7.oo~~ sold

to the moon and back

2010-10-13T13:11:00.001-05:00

Tammy Sliger ordered this painting, which features a phrase special to her family.

Enjoy, Tammy :)

Also, be on the lookout in the next couple of days, I'll be putting up some fall and halloween canvases at discount prices.

Believe

2010-10-11T09:35:00.001-05:00

Not being one for "traditional" when it comes to decorating for Christmas, I love using unexpected colors when I decorate. That was the inspiration for this "believe" sign. Although...it would look good in any color combination.

This is a 12x5.5, and is for sale at $15.oo.

hand-imals

2010-10-09T18:10:00.000-05:00

Jen Stubblefield wanted something unique for her little boy's bathroom...so (and this was really fun)...I used his hand prints to make giraffes and elephants. Now, he was only about 3 or 4 months old when we did this, so painting his hands and getting them to lie flat on the canvas without him getting paint all over himself or us was quite a trick. But we did it, and with a few touch-ups to the smudges, and jungle-ish embellishments, I think it turned out to be quite cute.

Thanks, Jen. I hope you (and John Stephen) enjoy it. :)

pum-diddly-umpkin

2010-10-08T22:47:00.000-05:00

This has really been the season for pumpkins. It's always good to get a painted pumpkin...they last so much longer than the real thing, you know. I really like the blue background; it's not a normal Fall color, but I think it makes the orange extra nice.

This one is for Lyndsey Cook. Enjoy, Lyndsey. :)

a good day...

2010-10-02T21:11:00.001-05:00

Here are some pictures from the Autumn Street Fair. It was a beautiful day, and I enjoyed being able to see and talk to so many people. Several of the items in the pictures are already sold, but if you see something you like, you can email me with your order.

autumn street fair

2010-09-30T08:56:00.000-05:00

It seems odd to think that only one year ago this month I was starting Willowbird Woods. The first "real" display of my work was at the Autumn Street Fair in McMinnville, TN. The Autumn Street Fair is coming up this weekend, and this year I have a booth there again. I have some new designs that I'm really excited to show, and I'll also be offering discounts on some things as well. I'll try to put up some pictures up tomorrow. The Au tum Street Fair is this Saturday (Oct. 2) from 8-5 in downtown McMinnville. Look for me by the kettle corn (yummmm, by the way).
~the picture was borrowed from the Autumn Street Fair website

book review: when you reach me

2010-09-20T23:08:00.000-05:00

Goodness, it's been a while since I did one of these. I figured out that to be able to remotely keep up with my 52 book challenge, I would have to start listening to audio books, so ever since school started, I've been listening to a book a week on the way to and from work-mostly Harry Potter, but I did listen to Pride and Prejudice and Zombies as well (which was really odd, by the way, but more about that another time).

Right now I am anxious to tell you about When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead, a book I read for a graduate class I'm taking on children's literature. I began reading it this morning, and seriously just finished it three minutes ago- it's one of those books you just can not put down. It's the story of a twelve year old girl living in New York City who begins to receive strange anonymous letters that somehow seem to predict things that haven't happened yet...these notes are the key to saving her friends life, but she doesn't find out how or why until the very end of the book. The book is very fast paced and written in a way that makes you think "yeah, I can relate to that." It's very suspenseful, too...it's one of those books where you think...
                                                what's going on here?
                                          hmmm..wait a minute....
                                                                    maybe..could it be possible?....
                                                                                         oh..ohhhhhh...really?..no, surely not...
                                                                                good gravy!............
                                                                                                        wow.
So, needless to say, I give it my hearty approval. It would be a great book for a middle school aged kid, as well...it did win a Newbery this year...but no matter your age, anyone who is in the mood for an entertaining read would enjoy this one.

the happiest moments...

2010-09-15T21:30:00.000-05:00

Here's a pumpkin that's similar to the smaller version in a recent post...with a little twist.

What a sweet quote, huh....this is for Mrs. Debbie Haley.

Thank you, Debbie. Enjoy! :)

a frog

2010-09-11T23:50:00.001-05:00

frogs are very unusual creatures,
with some quite distinctive features;
not the usual type for cuddles,
they much prefer the company of puddles.

sorry for the rhyme...it's late....I'm tired.
the combination makes me a tad ridiculous.
I should probably just show you some pictures....

This is for a new colleague of mine, Mrs. Gann. She wanted something to match the frog decor she has going on in her room.

Everyone has seen a frog on a lily pad, so I wanted to do something a bit different...I put the little guy in a flower.

I hope you enjoy it, Mrs. Gann. I think I'll go to bed now, before any more rhymes come to mind.

ohhhh snap...

2010-09-05T16:47:00.000-05:00

I recently made two signs for a teacher my sister works with. This is a paisley design that I have done before, and it works well in any color scheme. Well, I finished the first one and gave it to my sister...upon which she said "who's Mrs. Hillis"....

hmm.

It was supposed to say Mrs. Hill.

sooo... 2nd attempt.

I changed the color a little on this one as well...adding a little more yellow to the green to make it a citrus green color.

I also made one in shades of blue.

By the way...if anyone knows a Mrs. Hillis who would love a green paisley door sign...I just happen to have one ready to go.... :)

personalized pumpkin #2

2010-08-28T15:12:00.001-05:00

Sonya Cantrell bought this pumpkin painting, and wanted it personalized as a gift for her sil, Stacey Southard.

Thanks for the order, Sonya, and happy birthday, Stacy. :)

teacher bling

2010-08-25T21:54:00.001-05:00

Here's another teacher sign; this one is for my sister.

This canvas size (12x12) is $30.oo, and can be done with various colors or borders.

newport

2010-08-23T21:42:00.000-05:00

Ashley Newport ordered one of the pumpkins I recently had for sale, and wanted it customized with her last name. I was honored to do this for Ashley, since she's such a fabulous painter herself.

The pumpkins sold out quickly, but it's not to late to put in a custom order in time for fall.

Thanks for the order, Ashley. I hope you love it. :)

pumpkins (and a tree)

2010-08-17T20:11:00.002-05:00

Here are three little paintings now for sale. They would look good personalized, which I will do for free if requested.

8x10 ~~$15.oo~~ sold

8x8 ~~$10.oo~~ sold

5.5x 12 wooden sign $15.oo

...and here's a little friend who joined me while I was shooting the photos. Thankfully he was nice and still, because I think if he had jumped, I would have screamed and ran away...

the classic owl

2010-08-15T20:05:00.000-05:00

April Farless ordered this square canvas to go along with her home's autumn decor. I guess I consider this design to be one of my classics since it was one of the first ever paintings I did when starting Willowbird Woods, and I have created several different variations.

You can't really tell by the photos, but the highlights and leaves are painted in a metallic copper.

This little owl is still one of my favorites...

Thanks for the order, April. :)

a blue bird welcome sign

2010-08-14T16:38:00.000-05:00

This is a wooden sign that has a black wash background. The sides and back are painted teal to match the front.

...now for sale @ $20.oo

a pink owl

2010-08-12T17:17:00.000-05:00

Here's another "close up" owl, this time in pink. It's perfect for a girly girl and looks good personalized as well. This one is 8x10 and $15.oo.

autumn paisleys

2010-08-08T22:08:00.001-05:00

I've been doing so many fall themed paintings recently that sometimes I forget that it is still August. I always get a shock when I walk outside to find 102 degree weather. I am really ready for October.

Tiffany Keeton ordered this paisley welcome sign for her front door. It is similar to one I did a few posts back, but with an Autumn color scheme. These colors seem so cozy to me.

Thank you for the order, Tiffany. :)

H is for Halloween

2010-08-07T12:48:00.003-05:00

A nice little painting for autumn in some not-so-traditional colors. I love white pumpkins :)....and Halloween :)

I've distressed it a bit as well with some sandpaper.

This is on a 10x10 gallery stretched canvas, and will be for sale at the Autumn Street Fair in McMinnville. But if you must have it, it's $25.oo, and you can email me about delivery.

back to school...

2010-08-06T21:05:00.000-05:00

...uggg...boo...hiss....well, I'm really not that upset about school starting back. As my husband is fond of reminding me, I have had two whole months off, whereas he has had to go to work every day. The hardest part of starting back will be readjusting my schedule, as I tend to become nocturnal during the summer. No more late night partying...ha.
I'm not the only one getting ready to start back, either. My sister, who is a teacher as well, must do some fabulous advertising for me at her school. These polka dot canvases are for two of her colleagues.

Mrs. Bryant wanted this wooden sign for her classroom door.

I did a similar style on canvas for Mrs. Bandy, but with a slightly different font.

Mrs. Bandy also ordered a pretty pink and orange polka dot canvas for her daughter as well...

Thank you for your orders, ladies. Now, back to lesson planning. :)

sea life

2010-07-30T19:47:00.000-05:00

Jennifer Sain ordered this 22x22 canvas to coordinate with the bedding in her little boy's room. I love this octopus...

although if you notice, he only has seven tentacles. That's the way he looks on the pillow sham...so maybe he's using his eighth tentacle to scratch the back of his head?

Either way, he is very cute. Thanks for the order, Jennifer. :)

paisley welcome

2010-07-29T19:14:00.000-05:00

Dana Parish ordered this "welcome" painting to hang on her new front door in California. She requested neutral colors and a paisley design. I really love painting paisley, it seems kind of like fancy doodles.

These colors remind me of autumn, maybe because I am really ready for some cooler months to get here. I've also been working on some autumn and Halloween themed paintings for the Autumn Street Fair, which I plan to post in the next few days.

I hope you enjoy your painting, Dana. We'll miss you!

welcome pineapple

2010-07-23T10:43:00.000-05:00

Anne Vance has this beautiful frame, and she asked me to make a "pineapple welcome" painting to go in it.

I kept it classy to match the frame, but added a little whimsy as well, to make it fun.

This makes me think that I need to eat more fruit. :)

sunrise and swirls

2010-07-17T08:41:00.000-05:00

Jill Pierce wanted two large paintings for her bedroom and office, and gave me creative license to do pretty much whatever came to my mind...which is always fun for me. :)

This first one is to go in her bedroom. You can't tell from the photo, but it's one of the biggest canvases I have painted on to date, 30"x38" I believe. Jill asked for some sort of landscape, so I did a soft sunrise with some semi-abstract trees.

This next one is for her office. She has a beautiful desk in her office with very intricate carving, so I mimicked the carving in my painting, and added a little bird in a "window" for some visual interest. This one is 24"x30"

I hope you love them, Jill. I know I had fun painting them. :)

wood grain

2010-07-13T23:03:00.000-05:00

Carol Neal and her husband own a wonderful little store on North Chancery St. in McMinnville called Highland Rim Music and Art. I was honored when she asked me if I would like to sell some of my art in her store, and I wanted to use this as a chance to try something a little different. Using 12x12 wood panels, I put a light stain on before painting, letting the grain show through as the background.

Each painting can be purchased separately as a stand alone piece, but they would also look wonderful as a triptych, as they all relate to each other.

They are $30.oo each, and can be purchased at Highland Rim Music and Art.

book review: the name of the wind

2010-07-09T21:57:00.000-05:00

I really tried to stay away from fantasy novels...I did...I browsed through some classics, thought about picking up a mystery, briefly considered a historical romance, but in the end it just wasn't working. So I gave up. And went back to my favorite genre...the epic fantasy. I wanted to read something from a new author (something very hard for me to do since I get comfortable with my "old favorites"). So I browsed through

Amazon.com, first reading a couple of ho-hum novels which I muddled through... and then I found Patrick Rothfuss's The Name of the Wind....
wow..
this book is the best by far that I have read in quite a while. It is the chronicle of a legend, from his beginnings with his family as a troupe of traveling entertainers, to his life as a street urchin, then to his time in the University where he truly starts on his road to becoming a powerful, nearly mythical figure. The story is told in first person, something that I usually don't like, but it really works in this novel. I would highly recommend this book to fantasy fans, but I think anyone who likes a good story would like this book as well. My only disappointment is that the second book in this series does not come out until March 2011...an awful long time to wait, it seems.

the owl

2010-07-07T10:41:00.001-05:00

The owl is wary, the owl is wise.
He knows all the names of the stars in the skies.

He hoots and he toots and he lives by his wits,

but mostly he sits. . . (and he sits. . . and he sits).

This little guy is on a 12x12 canvas, and is for sale now at $30.oo.

*update: this painting has been sold, but I would be happy to create a similar painting to this one or any other of my paintings.

back to reality

2010-07-04T20:03:00.000-05:00

Let me tell you, if you have never been to the Outer Banks in North Carolina, you should consider going there on vacation one day. We were there last week, and it is a beautiful place. It was so nice to get away and spend a few days relaxing on the beach. But, it's also nice to be back to the green hills and valleys of Tennessee, as well. Every time I go on a trip, it makes me realize how much I love where I live, I wouldn't trade it for anything.

Here's a view of the sunrise over the ocean from our deck. The steps on the right were our path to the beach; it was nice to have our own little area, and it was less crowded that any other beach I've ever been to.

We also went to the Elizabethan Gardens on Roanoke Island. They had beautiful flowers, and this giant statue of Queen Elizabeth I.

Now back to reality, I guess. I did these next two paintings for my sister as a birthday present. They are pretty ginormous, 24"x36" I think.

I love the abstracted leaves and birds, I think it makes it very modern.

These really would look good in any color or size. I might even do a couple for myself...in blue and green, of course ;).

cancer free!

2010-06-17T20:16:00.000-05:00

My brother, Lucas, had his last chemo treatment last week, and is thankfully free of cancer now. To celebrate we had a big "end of chemo" party at my parents house. It was great to see everyone come out to share this with our family, and I want to thank all of you who sent notes, had words of encouragement, and were praying for my brother. Here are some pictures from our celebration:

Next week the whole family is off to the Outer Banks for a little "holiday". We've never been before, but from what I've heard from friends it is a beautiful place. I'm looking so forward to having nothing to do but lay on a beach and read a book. Relaxation....here I come. :)

heroes in a half shell...

2010-06-08T21:41:00.000-05:00

I had that theme song running through my head the whole time I was painting this sign. Danielle Smith is redoing her sons room in a Ninja Turtle theme for his birthday, and wanted this painting to hang on his door.

This was a fun one to paint. I can remember watching this show as a kid after school. I guess my taste in cartoons ran more towards the "boy" shows. I loved He Man, and Ronin Warriors, and my all time favorite... Thundercats. I still would prefer a good sci-fi or action movie over a romantic comedy any day.This brought back some good memories... thanks for the order, Danielle! :)

football time

2010-06-01T17:54:00.000-05:00

Trista Potter ordered this football themed painting for her husband, who is about to start graduate school. He doesn't know where he will be going yet, so she asked me to do a neutral red and blue. I know if this was in my house it would have to be a mandatory orange and white. We're kind of Vol crazy.

Thank you for your order, Trista! :)

happy memorial day

2010-05-31T09:00:00.000-05:00

“True heroism is remarkably sober, very undramatic. It is not the urge to surpass all others at whatever cost, but the urge to serve others at whatever cost.”
-Arthur Ashe

Thank you to all who have devoted their lives...and those who have lost their lives... in service to our country.

catching up... sookie stackhouse and more

2010-05-25T10:41:00.000-05:00

It's amazing how much I can get accomplished when I leave the T.V. turned off and ignore my computer. I've really been trying to catch up on my 52 book challenge, so this week I decided to do some serious reading (which means I've had a book in front of my face for seven days straight, as my husband points out). I started with A Bride Most Begrudging, a historical romance, set in the early American colonies, that has spiritual undertones and a heroine who likes to solve algebraic equations (huh?). I'm not really into romance novels, and this one didn't do much for me, but it was a free download on my Kindle, so I'm not out much.

Next I thought I would see what all the fuss is about with these "Sookie Stackhouse" books. I think there are about 11 in the series, and they are based on a Louisiana waitress who has telepathic abilities and falls in love with a vampire. I have only read the first two in the series( Dead Until Dark and Living Dead in Dallas), and while they are o.k., I guess they weren't what I was expecting. The books are basically paranormal murder-mysteries, which is fine with me, but I thought the vampire characters were too stereotypical (sleep in coffins, burned by sunlight..), and frankly some parts were raunchy. They did make me want to go back and reread the Twilight series, however, and so I finished my week with Twilight, New Moon, Eclipse, and Breaking Dawn. Sooo... 8 more to go until I'm all caught up. Yay!

a place to hang your art...take 3

2010-05-11T19:02:00.000-05:00

Jane Ann Bryant ordered this art display canvas for her daughter's teacher. I wanted to do something different from the others I have made, so after some thinking, I came up with this design.

Thank you for the order, Jane Ann. :)

Lydia's Owl

2010-05-07T21:11:00.000-05:00

Lydia Angus was the winner of my giveaway at the Spring Fling Craft Fair at Bobby Ray Elementary. She chose this purple owl as her prize, and I customized it for her with her name.

I hope you enjoy your owl, Lydia! :)

welcome to our nest

2010-05-05T21:36:00.000-05:00

Due to a small obsession I have with all things "bird", I seriously thought about keeping this one to put on my front door. But I've talked myself out of that, so now it's for sale.

The size of this canvas is 8"x16" , and it is $30.oo.

are you ready for your closeup?

2010-05-04T09:06:00.000-05:00

...These little guys sure are. These "zoomed-in" owls can be done in any color, and are $15.oo (the canvas size is 8x10).

spring fling giveaway winner

2010-05-02T21:10:00.000-05:00

Yesterday was a great day at the Bobby Ray Spring Fling. There was a good turnout even with the poor weather. We did have to shut down two hours early because of a tornado warning, though (yikes!), but thankfully no tornado came.

I had a giveaway at my booth, and today I drew a name from those who entered. The winner is.....

Lydia Angus!

Lydia has won a free 8x10 canvas of her choice. Lydia, I'll be contacting you!

hot pink and aqua

2010-04-29T15:41:00.001-05:00

This painting is for Tamra Newby. She ordered this as a present for her student teacher.

Sometimes my inspiration comes from the simplest things, like this ribbon. I love these two colors together.

Thank you for your order, Tamra. I hope she loves it! :)

new spring totes

2010-04-19T16:56:00.001-05:00

These totes are great for babies, school, shopping...or carrying things to the beach, should you be so lucky. :)

These totes are $15.oo each, and will be on sale at my booth at the Bobby Ray Elementary Spring Fling Craft Fair on May 1st.

home of the eagles

2010-04-11T20:29:00.001-05:00

This painting is for Kim Cantrell, who is the principal at Morrison Elementary. She requested this after winning a giveaway from me held on Brandie Mansfield's blog.

I took a little bit of creative licence with the baby eagles, because when I searched for pictures of baby eagles on line, I found that they were not exactly the cutest things ever....

So after a bit of sketching, this is what I came up with... not even close to realistic, but I like them.

I hope you enjoy you painting, Kim, and go Eagles! :)

For the Busteeds

2010-04-09T10:24:00.003-05:00

Lori Mayfield ordered this sign as a wedding shower gift for her cousin. I went with a more elaborate font for this one, so I kept the background nice and simple with some curly vines. You can't really tell from the photos, but the vines have a slight gold wash on them.

Thank you for your order, Lori. :)

a personalized sign

2010-04-05T20:54:00.002-05:00

I created this painting for Erica Moore to give to her sister, Tanya. I personalized one for Erica as well, but for some reason I didn't take a picture of it. It was the painting of the bird framed against the abstract willow branches (in the post below). This one is similar to one I did a few months ago, except personalized for Tanya's family. These personalized signs are painted on pine boards. They can be done with any of my designs and are $25.oo.

a little abstract

2010-03-13T13:28:00.000-06:00

I've been feeling the influence of spring quiet a bit here lately, and this painiting is one of the results. The little blue bird is framed in a distressed brown square, with a background inspired by branches of a willow tree. It is painted on a 9x9 square block of pine, which I have sanded on the sides to make it a bit uneven.

my other passion...

2010-03-10T16:29:00.001-06:00

...I really admire those of you who sew. I love to sew myself, and although I'm not nearly an expert seamstress, I have sewn a few pillows and curtains for my home. When I started Willowbird Woods, my intention was to eventually "expand" into making all kinds of crafty things. So now, in my free time (not that I really have any...I'm just procrastinate on some things that really need to get done...a.k.a.: heaps of homework for a class I'm taking), I have started to make tote bags. After several practice attempts, here are a couple that I'm quite proud of...

And... they are also reversible

(I probably should have ironed them before taking pictures...oh well.)

I think I'm going to put these in my etsy store when I can get some better pictures, but if anyone wants one before then, the paisley one is $10.oo, and the jungle print one is $15.oo.

a squirrel and lamb rendezvous

2010-03-06T15:33:00.001-06:00

In the forest they gather when winter comes to an end,

such a nice Springy day to catch up with a friend.

This one was done for Lindsey Barrett to give as a baby shower gift, and I just happened to have a ribbon to match the colors exactly. How neat was that? :)

i'm so ready for spring

2010-02-28T15:32:00.000-06:00

...that was the thought I had in my mind when I created this name sign. Angela Brock ordered this for her sister-in-law, Trina, for her birthday. Trina also happens to be one of my good friends, so I was excited to paint this for her. Hydrangeas are one of my favorite flowers. I have a little bush in my yard, and I can't wait for it to start blooming again.

By the way, I don't know if anyone has noticed, but I'm three weeks behind in book reviews. This 52 books in 52 weeks thing is harder than I thought it would be. I've just decided that, rather that stress myself out trying to read a book a week, I'm just going to read what I can. I might not make it to 52 books, but at least I'll be having fun, which is what's important anyway. :)

hey momma bird

2010-02-23T20:58:00.000-06:00

This momma and baby bird are going to be featured on C'est Bon blog in a giveaway at the end of March. More details to come soon. :)

a birthday present

2010-02-20T16:35:00.000-06:00

This sign goes to my mom for her birthday. Happy birthday, Mom!

i heart you owls

2010-02-15T17:56:00.000-06:00

Since we are off for President's Day today, I spent a good bit of this morning painting. I guess I'm still under the influence of Valentine's Day, because I really felt like painting pink hearts. This 11x14 canvas has a wood grain pattern background, and is now available for $25.oo. It's not as bluish as the picture makes it look. With the snowy, cloudy day, I had a hard time getting a good picture.

saturday book review: alice's adventures in wonderland

2010-02-06T14:47:00.000-06:00

'Who are you?' said the Caterpillar. This was not an encouraging opening for a conversation. Alice replied, rather shyly, 'I - I hardly know, Sir, just at present - at least I know who I was when I got up this morning, but I think I must have been changed several times since then.'
This week I decided to read Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll, a favorite book from my childhood. I love this story, it's a bit crazy, but so much fun. Reading it now that I'm older, I can appreciate the wit, and I love the visual imagery Carroll uses to describe Wonderland. It's a great book to read to brighten up a gloomy day.

and the winner is...

2010-02-02T21:55:00.000-06:00

Thanks for the birthday memories, guys. I had a great day (getting out of school for a snow day was a really good way to celebrate). I think the birthday memory that stands out in my mind has to be my seventh birthday. My parents got me a gold ring with a heart shaped amethyst stone (my birthstone). I was soooo excited. I thought is was so cool that I had a real gold ring. In fact, that ring is probably still somewhere in my parents house.

Now for the winner...

Random.org chose the number 4, which is Maranda Danelle. Congratulations, Maranda! I'll email you about your painting.

"it's my birthday" giveaway

2010-02-01T13:30:00.002-06:00

Tomorrow is a special day for me... no, not because it's Groundhogs Day (although that's pretty cool, too)... tomorrow happens to be my 28th birthday (yay!). So I thought I would celebrate by having a giveaway on my blog. To enter, post a comment about your favorite birthday memory. It can be about something you received... a place you went to... a special surprise... something funny... something sweet...whatever sticks out in your mind. I think it would be so much fun on my birthday to hear about all of the wonderful memories you guys have of your birthdays. The giveaway will last until 9:00 tomorrow night (Feb. 2), at which time I will use a random number generator to pick a winner from the comments. The winner will receive this 8x10 canvas, very appropriate for Valentine's Day, I think, and I will even customize it for free if desired. So spread the word and help me celebrate my birthday with a great giveaway! :)

saturday book review: a room with a view

2010-01-30T16:27:00.000-06:00

This week I went for a classic, and read A Room with a View by E.M. Forster. The book cover classifies it as an "Edwardian social comedy," and I kind of thought of it as similar to Pride and Prejudice, in that the main characters are battling with the socially unacceptable act of loving someone who is not in their class. The main character, Lucy Honeychurch, falls in love with a fellow Britisher on a vacation in Italy when she faints in his arms after witnessing a murder. However this man, George Emerson, is entirely unacceptable, being of a lower class. When she arrives back in England, she becomes engaged to a man who is considered "proper" for her, but whom she does not love. Lucy must make a decision between what convention dictates and what her heart tells her is right. For me, this book started off slow; in fact, I probably would not have finished it if I wasn't doing the 52 book challenge. However, the plot really started to have life around the middle of the book, and I enjoyed seeing Lucy evolve into someone who sees past petty social convention. One of my favorite lines in the book is "A rebel she was, but not of a kind he (her fiance) understood- a rebel who desired , not a wider dwelling-room, but equality beside the man she loved."

hoot

2010-01-29T09:37:00.000-06:00

One of my very best friends, Elizabeth McCall, recently gave birth to a little baby boy- Malcolm Elias. This is a paining I made for his nursery. I love the green color she painted on the walls. Her and her husband are in the process of painting a giant tree on one of the nursery walls, so I thought an owl would fit very nicely into the scheme. She wanted me to do two more to hang beside the owl, so be on the lookout for those (I'm thinking a squirrel and a hedgehog, maybe).

saturday book review- "the black unicorn"

2010-01-24T17:24:00.000-06:00

o.k., so it's not really saturday, and i didn't really read this book this week, but i did read it a couple of weeks ago, so i'm counting it anyway. I've just been so busy this week with everything else, I really haven't had time to just sit down and read for fun. I started my second semester of master's classes last weekend, and already am loaded with things to read, research, and write....and I've finally decided to get going on the yearbook for Bobby Ray Elem., which I am in charge of this year...and I'm working on reading the Bible in 90 days....and I have been painting... and I've even managed to sleep some this week, so that's good.

So... this is going to be short and sweet. This is the second in the "Landover" series by Terry Brooks. I read it along with the first one, and really enjoyed it. In this book, Ben is adjusting to life as Landover's king when a troubled dream about his former law partner, Miles Bennett, sends him back to his world. But when he returned to Earth, Miles was in the best of spirits. His home-coming to Landover was shattered by Meeks, who has taken on his appearance and thrown him out of his own castle. No one recognizes Ben, his friend, Willow, has gone missing, and Meeks is using his role as king to send the kingdom on a hunt for a mythical black unicorn. Ben must find a way to break the spell that is disguising his identity in time to save Willow and his kingdom from Meeks. I really enjoyed the action and suspense in this book... a good, fun read.
Now, I'm going to go read "From Test Takers to Test Makers" for my masters class. I'm guessing this one won't be as fun and exciting...